Type-writing machine.



UNITED STATES Fatented February 21, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

ALBION ALEXANDER VANDERPOOL, OF NEWVARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TOELLIOTT-FISHER COMPANY, OF NETV YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 782,999, dated February21, 1905.

Application filed April 23, 1904. Serial No. 204,577.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBION ALEXANDER VANDERPooL, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of NewJersey, have invented a new and useful Type-WVriting Machine, of whichthe following is a specification.

My present invention relates to an improvement in type-writing machines,and more particularly to a novel motion-transmitting means designed withspecial reference to the transmission of motion to a type-arm, butsusceptible of many other applications.

By way of premise it may be stated that more or less difiiculty has beenencountered in effecting the transmission of motion in angulardirections. A bell-crank lever or its equivalent has ordinarily beenutilized for this purpose; but its use is open to several seriousobjections. In the first place the extent of movement is necessarilycircumscribed, and in the second place the leverage necessarily varies,so that it is practically impossible to transmit movement at a uniformrate of speed.

The object of this invention is to produce simple, inexpensive, andeflicient means for transmitting motion in angular or circuitousdirections without a change of leverage or the various otherobjectionable characteristics of bell-crank or equivalent transmittingmechanisms.

To the accomplishment of this object the invention resides ininter-posing between the driving and driven elements amotion-transmitting mechanism including a bodily-movable series ofdisconnected contacting antifriction elements confined by guiding meansand constituting a flexible section which may deflect or assume anangular or tortuous form in accordance with the direction or directionsin which it is desired to transmit motion or to accommodate the relativedisposition of the driving and driven elements.

Considered somewhat more specifically, the invention consists in theinterposition between a key-lever and a type-arm of a type-writingmachine a motion-transmitting mechanism including a series ofantifriction-balls incased in a tubular casing having one end thereofdeflected, so that the force exerted by the transmitting mechanism willbe in a direction other than that in which the key-lever exerts itsforce upon the transmitting mechanism.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of afront-strike typeaction embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar viewshowing the parts in the position they assume when the type is movedinto contact with the platen.

Like numerals are employed to designate corresponding parts in bothviews.

1 indicates the base of a type-writing machine frame, from which rises atype-arm bracket 2, formed at its upper end with a semicylindrical yoke3, below which is a laterally-extending arm 4. \Vithin the yoke 3 isfitted a circular bearing 5, within which the type-arm 6 is fulcrumed at7. The bearing 5 is in the form of a narrow cylindrical casing having aperipheral slot 8, accommodating the movement of the type-arm, which islimited by the shoulders 9 and 10, formed by the end walls of the slot8. The lower end of the arm 6, afforded a bearing in the member 5, isformed with a shoulder 11, disposed radially with respect to the fulcrum7, the reduction of the arm to produce this shoulder defining betweenthe arm and the outer wall of the member 5 a ball-race 12, constitutinga continuation of a tubular conduit 13. The lower end of this conduit 13is disposed vertically; but its upper end is deflected laterally andpassed upwardly through the yoke 13 and the peripheral wall of thebearing 5, so as to dispose it at a tangent to the arcuate race 12. Therace 12 and the conduit 3 constitute guiding means for the reception ofa series of antifriction-balls 14, the ball located at the upper end ofthe series being disposed in contact with the shoulder 11 of thetype-arm. The

its front extremity with a key 18. Encircling the plunger 15 andinterposed between the lever 16 and the lower end of the conduit 13 is akey-lever-retracting spring 19, a typearm-retracting spring 20 beingconnected at its opposite ends to the type-arm 6 and the arm 4 of thebracket 2.

21 indicates the platen shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The operation of the mechanism described will be apparent from acomparison of'Figs. 1 and 2. WVhen the key 18 is depressed, the rear endof thelever 16 is elevated, thus causing the plunger 15 to impartendwise movement to the series of balls 14:. As the uppermost ball bearsagainst the shoulder 11 the type-arm will be swung into contact with theplaten, the flexibility of the series of balls permitting it to conformto its circuitous or crooked guide, defined by the recess 12 and thetube 13, notwithstanding the change in form which is caused by themovement of the type-arm and the consequent prolongation of the race 12.As soon as the finger is removed from the key 18 the key-lever and thetypearm will be retracted by the springs 19 and 20 in an obvious manner.

It will now be seen that the key-lever and type-arm constitute drivingand driven members between which is interposed a motiontransmittingmechanism including a flexible section made up of a series ofantifrictionballs, suitably guided in accordance with the direction inwhich it is desired to transmit the movement. It will also be noted thatby the interposition of this character of mechanism there will be nochange of leverage incident to the change of relation of the driving anddriven members during their movement, and, furthermore, that themovement ofthe driven element is not limited by the nature of theinterposed mechanism, as is the case where a bell-crank lever isemployed.

It is thought that from the foregoing the construction, operation, andadvantages of my motion-transmitting mechanism will be fullycomprehended; but it is to be distinctly understood that I do not limitmyself to the structural details defined, since while the invention isparticularly applicable for use in a type-action it is equally useful inother connections for the transmission of motion. I therefore reservethe right to effect such changes, modifications, and variations of theillustrated structure as may come clearly within the scope of theprotection prayed.

What I claim is 1. In a type-writer, the combination with a key atype-arm and a type-arm bearing, ofmotion-transmittingmechanismincludingan endwise-movable series ofdisconnected elements, and guiding means therefor formed in part by thetype-arm bearing.

2. In a type-writer, the combination with a key and a type-arm, ofinterposed motiontransmitting mechanism including an endwisemovableseries of individually rotary elements, and a crooked conduit therefor,formed in part by the type-arm.

3. In a type-writer, the combination with a key, a type-arm and atype-arm bearing, of motion-transmitting mechanism including anendwise-movable series of balls, and a conduit therefor, formed in partby the type-arm and its bearing.

1. In a type-writer, the combination with a key, a type-arm and atype-arm bearing, of motion-transmitting mechanism including anendwise-movable series of disconnected elements, a crooked conduittherefor formed in part by the type-arm bearing, and a plunger guided bythe conduit and arranged to move said elements.

5. In a type-writer, the combination with a key and a type-arm, ofinterposed motiontransmitting mechanism including an endwisemovableseries of antifriction-balls, a crooked conduit therefor formed in partby the typearm, and a plunger extended into the conduit and operativelyrelated to the key-lever.

6. In a type-writer, the combination with a key-lever, of a type-armbearing, a type-arm fulcrumed therein and having a shoulder, anendwise-movable series of balls bearingagainst said shoulder, a crookedconduit including a tubular section extended into the bearing andconstituting guiding means for the balls, and means whereby movement isimparted to the series of balls by the lever to actuate the typearm.

7 In a type-writer, a key-lever, a type-arm bearing, a type-armfulcrumed in the bearing and having a shoulder, an endWise-movableseries of balls bearing against said shoulder, a crookedconduitconstituting guiding means for the balls, and means wherebymovement is imparted to the series of balls by the keylever to actuatethe type-arm.

8. In a type-writer, a type-arm, a series of motion-transmitting balls,a type-arm bearing constituting a ball-guide, and means for moving theballs to swing the type-arm.

9. In a type-writer, an oscillatory type-arm having a shoulder, anoscillatory key-lever, an interposed series of motion-transmitting ballsdirectly engaging the type-arm shoulder, and a crooked guide for theballs.

10. In a type-writer, an oscillatory typearm, an oscillatory key-lever,an interposed series of motion-transmitting balls, and a ballguideformed in part by the type-arm.

11. In a type-writer, an oscillatory typearm, a ball-guide having oneend substantially straight and its opposite end curved concentric withthe axis of the type-arm, a plunger disposed to reciprocate in thestraight end of the guide, and a series of motion-transmitting ballslocated in the guide between the plunger and the type-arm.

12. In a type-writer, an oscillatory typearm and the rear end of thekey-lever, said mechanism including an endwise-movable series of balls,a crooked conduit therefor, a plunger connected to the key-lever andextended into the conduit to urge the balls, and a lever-retractingspring interposed between the crooked conduit and the lever.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ALBION ALEXANDER YANllERPOOl).

Vitnesses:

CHAs. FLINT, F. H. MELLINGER.

